William s



(No Model.)

W. S. INGHAHAM.

MARBLBIZING WOOD.

No. 387,885. Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

N. PUER3 rmmulhogn her. wahingrm D. c.

NlTE STATES PATENT Christ.

lVlLL-IAM S. INGRAHAM, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. INCRAHAM COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

'MARBLEIZING woon.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,885, dated August 14, 1888.

Application filed April 6, 1888. Serial No. 260,828. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. INGRAHAM, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin llrocesses of Finishi ng 'Wood in Imitation of Marble; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,\vhieh form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved process of enameling or finishing wood in imitation of marble, the object being to produce inarbled wood, closely reproducing the sharp and delicate veinings of the stone, having a tough, elastic, and hard, and hence durable, finish, possessing a. deep and strong tone, adapted to be worked up with the facility of plain wood and retaining in age its faithfulness as an imitation.

lVith these ends in View my invention consists in a process of marbling wood,consisting in first applying a tough and elastic coating to the wood and hardening it, then applying marbling-paints floated upon water directly to such hardened coating, and then applying a coating of varnish over the marbling-paints.

My invention further consists in a process of marbling wood, consisting in first coating the wood with japan and hardening it, then applying paints floated upgn water directly to such hardened-japan coating, and then applying varnish over the marbling-paints.

My invention further consists in a process of making parts and composite structures of mar-bled wood and in certain other details, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention the lumber or stock is got out in suitable blank forms containing surfaces such as are to be used in the composition of a structure containing the product. An economy of time, labor, and material is effected by shaping theindividual blanks so as to contain corresponding parts of a number of similarstructures. These blanks, or the pieces of lumber from which they are made, are saudpapered or otherwise treated to secure a smooth surface for them. The blanks are then submitted to one or more, and preferably to several, coats of japan applied by immersing them in a bath of the material which is hardened, and preferably each coat independently, by subjection to intense heat in an oven. After being baked and hardened, the successive coats of japan are rubbed down to a smooth surface, or, if desired, only the final coat may be so treated. Then after a heavy body of hard japan of uniform texture and smooth surface has been secured upon each blank, they are independently marbled by immersion, when dry, in a bath of water upon which marblingpaints have been floated and agitated with each other to produce that confusion of coloring, securing the required variegations and veining in the final effect. The marblingpaints may be prepared so as to entirely obscure the japan, as would be the case in representing light marbles, or to only partially obscure the same, as in the darker or black marbles. By properly preparing and blending the paints the japan may be made to largely contribute to the final effect. The marbled blanks are then allowed to dry, after which they are coated with varnish, which not only holds and fixes the paintsin place, but also finishes the surfaces. The varnished blanks are then baked to flow the varnish and give the finish a soft and clear tone. It is to be partieularly noted that the blanks are dry when they are immersed in the marbling-bath,so that the marbling-paints are not incorporated with the japan, but remain entirely distinct from and above it. When finished, the blanks are worked up into the forms in which the marbled stock is to be used. In working up the blanks their ends are generally removed, and with them the accumulations of superfluous japan and varnish, which always collect at such points, and which are added to by each immersion of the blanks in the baths and by each coat of varnish. The japan, being very tough and elastic, cuts without chipping or flaking, and the stock may be mitered and fitted with perfectly sharp and clean joints and with the facility of working unfinished wood. The marbled parts so made are assembled with glue, and if the grain of the wood is anywhere exposed it is preferably painted over. The application of the japan by immersion in a bath thereof has been described. This is the preferred method of applying it, although it may to pan groundwork that in. ageit retains its faithheating the structures after they have been be put on with a brush or in any other way. It may also be remark ed that simple structures or assemblages of parts may be put through the process described; but the marbling of the wood in the form of blanks is much preferred. By immersing the blanks in baths ofja'pan, as described, their entire surfaces are coated with it and their pores effectually sealed against the absorption of water when they are submerged in the marbling-bath, in which the wood is completely protected by the japan. Moreover, this effectual sealing of the pores not only protects the blanks throughout their treatment in being marbled, but also in a large measure protects the marbled parts against atmospheric changes after they have been finally assembled, when most of their cut surfaces will besealed with glue, and if not,with a paint or other filler. \Vhen applied and baked, as described, the japan is not absorbed by the wood, nor is it effected by changes therein, if any occur, but always retains its perfect integrity as a'strong,continuous,permanent,and impermeable envelope therefor. With these characteristics, it is apparent that it must form an adequate groundwork for the marblingpaints and secure for the marbling a strong and deep tone, a fine and close texture, and permanence. Being intensely hard, also, and permitting no blending of the marbling-paints after their application to it, it favors a distinct and natural reproduction of those sharp and delicate veinings peculiar to some fancy marbles. Being tough and elastic, as well as hard, it endures wear admirably and does not mar and scratch under ordinary usage, nor does it readily take the impression of a blow. My marbled finish retains its color under ordinary conditions, and such is the stability of the jafulness asa representation of marble, whereas wood marbled by applying marbling-paint to a filler on the wood fades and bleaches and in age takes on a fibrous cast, wholly destroying its value as an imitation of stone.

Under my improved process baking and put together are avoided, whereby the glue in them is preserved in full strength, whereas the old process of assembling and gluing the parts and then finishing them under an immersion and baking process involved a large percentage of loss, due to distortion of the parts and tothe deterioration of the glue, which lost its life and power under the action of the heat. Under my improved process, also, is secured an elegance and sharpness of outline not obtainable under the old process of assembling the parts and then immersing the entire structures, causing their corners and edges to acquire a thicker coating than their remaining surfaces, and to become round, as it were,and lose all sharpness and elegance of outline, so that, no matter how meritorious the design, the lines of the structures were destroyed and the completed articles had a heavy, clumsy,

japan upon its ends.

and ina-rtistic appearance.

The accompanying drawings will illustrate the process described above and the application ofthe product to the manufacture of clockcases.

Figure 1 of such drawings shows a blank of plain wood having a smooth surface and .designed to be formed into four marbled parts to be ultimately worked into clock-cases. Fig. 2 of the drawings represents this same blank after it has been incased in a heavy envelope of japan, and showing the accumulations of Fig. 3 represents the blank after marbling-paint has been applied over the japan enamel. Fig. 4 is a diagram of the end of the blank, showing how the blank is cut up into four pieces. Fig. 5 shows the case part worked out from one of such pieces.

Fig. 6 is a broken view showing a mitered joint made from such case part. Fig. 7 is a broken View in section showing the lines of demarkation between the japan, paint, and varnish; and Fig. 8 shows a clock the case whereof is composed of parts worked out of blanksindependently finished, worked up, and then assembled, a portion of the partsbeing finished simply in japan and a portion being marbled, the lower marbled molding of the case being composed of parts like that of which the manufacture is illustrated by the first four figures of the drawings.

Although the clock case herein shown is made only in part of marbled wood, it is apparent that, if desired, the cases may be made wholly of marbled wood, which may be pro duced and arranged in many beautiful combinations. It will thus be seen that my invention opens the way not only to the production of an infinite variety of fancy clocks in original designs, but also to the production at a comparatively low cost of all the high-priced fancy-marble French clocks, which will not surpass them in sharpness and elegance of outline or in variety and stability of color.

My improved process is also applicable in the construction of interior finish, and particularly in making chimney-pieces and in.

building furniture.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the use of japan, but that I may use any material acting substantially the same as japan in the use herein described for it. It is apparent, also, that the succession of steps herein set forth may be slightly varied. Thus the varnish may not be applied until after the marbled parts have been worked out from the blanks. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact process herein shown and described, but

hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware that surfaces characterized by a mottled or clouded appearance such as tortoise-shell or horn-have been produced by daubing, patching, spotting, spattering, and dropping marbling-paints upon a fluent surface of japan or varnish and then moving or IIO agitating the fluent materials so as to incorporate and intimately commingle them. These processes produce the mottled 0r clouded effects characteristic of tortoise-shell or horn, and are all inadequate to the production of imitations of delieately-veined marble,whercin the veining must be sharply defined from the groundwork. I do not, therefore, broadly claim the application of paints to japan; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A process of marbling wood, consisting in first applying atough and elastic body-coating to the wood and then hardening it by exposing it to intense heat, then superimposing a coat of color upon the said body-coating, with which the colors do not blend, and then applying a coat of transparent varnish over the color, substantially as set forth,

2. A process of marbling wood, consisting in first coating the wood with japan and hardening the same by exposing it to intense heat, then superimposing paints floated upon water upon the said body-coating, with which they do not biend, and finally applying varnish over the paint, substantially as setforth.

3. Aproccss of making marbled wood parts for composite structure, consisting in first coating a blank of wood with japan and then hardening the same by exposing it to intense heat, then superimposing paints floated upon water upon the said body-coating, with which they do not blend, then applying varnish over the marbling-paints, and then cutting the blank into one or more marbled parts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this spccification in the presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

WILLIAM S. lNGR-AHAM. \Vitnesses:

F. L. FAIRBANKS, HENRY W. HUNeERFonD, 

